April Snow Does Not Bring May Flowers, Mother Nature April 23, 2012
Posted by haelybop in Baby, Finished Projects, Leah.add a comment
Leah says:
We have 2 cm of snow in our forecast, and we are the lucky one’s! Further north is expecting 25 cm. You know, it’s not that I don’t like snow, I love it. I love winter, Justin and I have snowshoes and skis and snowboards and we are always eager to put them to good use! I just like snow in Winter. Not in April. Not at the END of April. After a snow-less winter. This just isn’t right. *End rant
What is right, is the hat and mitten set I finished knitting for my friend’s new baby girl, I was so convinced would be a boy. Shows what I know. Ta da:
I loved how the yarn knitted up in the mittens. This will be sent shortly to my friend and her growing family.
Cast on are two new projects. One is a baby hat for another dear friend who is expecting a boy at the end of April (any day now!) and… my very first sweater. I’m almost finished the back but I may need to rip it out because I cast on medium and it is looking REALLY small. I checked my gauge, but I’ll knit the back and see how it measures up. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Fall 2011 and is really easy. It’s funny, I always thought knitting sweaters was a whole other ball park that I was just not ready for…. but it’s pretty easy! I know the tricky part for me will be fitting it all together, since my tension tends to change slightly when I work on a garment.
For all you Southern Ontarian’s: Bundle up! It’s looking chilly out there.
Happy April! April 4, 2012
Posted by haelybop in Baby, Blankets & Afghans, Finished Projects, Hats, Leah, Random.add a comment
Leah says:
We have entered what I hope to be Spring without any snow and with refreshingly coolish temperatures ahead. Welcome Spring! Though we in the GTA can’t really complain at all about the winter we had, it was the mildest in years and literally snow-less, I am happy to see that Spring is now official. I’m also happy to see my tulips and lilies coming up in the front garden bed. I’m so eager to get outside and continue to create curb appeal to our home. It really needs it and while the work seems endless, I’m really enjoying it thus far.
Now on to the knitting side of things. There’s good news and bad news. The good news is, guess what? I finished the afghan! Woot Woot!
And here on it’s new home:
I do apologize for the quality of these photos, they’re taken with my iPhone and the lighting is always wonky.
I’m thrilled with it. It was such an easy knit (basket weave stitch) and was great to watch movies (after movies, after movies, after tv shows) with it on my lap. And its WARM. It ended up taking 13 skeins of Patons Tweed Wool in chestnut and I’m really happy with the colour and how it blocked. At long last, what has taken about a year from the time I purchased the wool to completion, we have an afghan.
And now for the bad news. I knit the cutest hat for my friend’s new baby but didn’t swatch it and it’s gigantic. What do you think?
Good Luck Bear is trying it on for size and it’s way too big for him. I love the pattern and how it turned out, but sheesh! I just don’t know what to do with it. I wanted the snowflake pattern because the little one was born in February, but maybe I can give it to her next Christmas for next winter. Right now I’m knitting baby mitts and another hat for her.
I’ll leave you with this next picture, we’ve had a very warm spell in March and during one of those gorgeously warm days, Justin and I went on a hike in Dundas, at Spencer Creek Park. This is of Websters Falls:
Love that he even caught the rainbow the mist caused at the base of the falls.
Here’s to many more warm Spring days ahead!
The Neverending Afghan March 2, 2012
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Leah Says:
I just can’t finish this Afghan. It’s been a month and a half and I just ran out of yarn last night. Will need 2 more skeins which will take the number of skeins up to 12! Plus, my friend had a healthy baby girl (I was SO wrong, I was sure it would be a boy!) and I haven’t even started her gift yet. Good thing baby’s are small so I won’t be spending a truck load of time knitting my little presents. Can’t wait to meet the newest addition to her gorgeous family, either.
Other things I have been up to since my last post, are:
1. Last weekend we took Friday and Monday off and travelled to Huntsville to visit some good friends of ours and partake in some winter activites. We snowshoed in Arrowhead Provincial Park:
We skied /snowboarded at Hidden Valley Ski Hill. Can I just say since the area had close to a foot of snow dumped on them on Friday, we had simply the best ski conditions we’ve had all season?
It truly was a winter wonderland all weekend long. Sad that we had to drive 4 hours north to get some decent winter conditions, but there you have it.
2. I’ve been training for a 5 km race coming up this Sunday! My sister and I are competing in it, and no, I do not plan on running with her, running in front of her, since I plan on beating her! We are a little competitive and share a friendly rivalry when it comes to sports. She usually has me eating dust when we cycle together. Anyone out there have any tips for a 5 km run?
3. I did not successfully complete my detox. I had a terrible bout with food poisoning and was down for the count for close to a week, which caused me to have this horrible relationship with food, especially fish, that’s still slightly in place. So that alone killed the detox. I’m eating clean now, mind you.
4. I’d like to give a shout out to fellow Cool Girl Emily- she is celebrating 5 years with her lovely husband tomorrow! Woot woot!
5. TGIF, baby!
It’s Stich n Bitchin Time! February 10, 2012
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Tonight I’ll be hosting a yarn, wine and pizza filled Friday evening with my dear knitting friends. Due to the fact that we have been moving around the GTA a bit, these Stitch n Bitch sessions have been fewer and far between, however it almost makes them more special when we do get to do our stitch fest.
On my needles, I have this:
afghan from Knit Simple Winter 2008 issue. I’m about half way through and it’s looking really nice. It’s been a great knit because it’s easy and it’s doing a great job of keeping me warm as I watch Boardwalk Empire and Luther. I’m using Paton’s Classic Wool Tweeds in Chestnut.
I’m also 1/4 of the way through a month long ‘clean eating’ detox. I have cut out wheat, dairy, coffee and processed sugar. What’s amazing about this diet (which I have done last year as well) is that I notice significant changes with the way I feel throughout the day, my sleeping habits and even my mood. And let me tell you, there are some really kick ass gluten free recipes out there, for pretty much anything you crave like cupcakes, muffins, etc. One great website I’ve gotten lots of recipe’s from is http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/. A little planning ahead with my meals has proven really helpful and makes things easy when I know I’ll be out for most of the day. Valentine’s is coming up, so I’ll allow myself to cheat a little as we’re going to a wonderful restaurant that night.
Tonight, I won’t be breaking any rules- we are having personal pizza’s (mine with spelt pizza dough and goat’s milk feta and mozzarella) as well as a black bean dip with brown rice chips and crackers and some good old dark chocolate for dessert. Can’t wait!
TGIF!
The Queue and Thrumming January 24, 2012
Posted by haelybop in Baby, Leah, Mittens, Queued Up.add a comment
I’m a little slow on the uptake here, but who has heard of thrumming? Does it really make your mittens a lot warmer? And just how hard, exactly, is it? Do you end up with a whole bunch of the unspun yarn in the mitten? Do you need to sew in a lining to the underside of the mitten? Discuss.
After a brief ravelry pattern search for mittens, I came across these adorable thrummed mittens and they are really intriguing. Not sure where in my long queue I can fit them in but I do believe they should go on the ‘must knit’ list.
Speaking of my queue, it’s baby all the way. Cast on is an afghan for my home now, but once that’s done I’ll be knitting for the soon to be born little one’s. Without giving too much away, I’m attempting my 1st fair isle pattern for one friend who is due in February, a heavily cabled garment for another friend due in April and then a little something is in the works for another close friend and fellow knitter, who is expecting in May. Other than that, I have no baby items to knit. 
Until next time, keep knitting and have fun!
p.s. Did any Canadian get that reference to those old “Body Break with Hal Johnson and Johanne McLeod” commercials on local channel stations?
And a Prodigal Son Returns… January 18, 2012
Posted by haelybop in Baby, Blankets & Afghans, Leah, Queued Up, Scarves.add a comment
Dear WordPress: I’m sorry I left you! I’m sorry I started my own blog but grew tiresome and antsy and eventually unsatisfied with it. Now I’d like to beg forgiveness and ask that you accept me back to us Cool Girls, who still love to knit.
Now enough grovelling. What have I been up to? (Knitting-wise, of course) Here’s some random pictures from my recent FO’s:
A knitted layette for my dear friend who gave birth to a beautiful girl last May.
A lacy cowl for said friend as her Christmas present.
A “Lily of the Valley’ stitch scarf:
And with this same Sirdhar’s Mohair “Blush” yarn, a ruffle scarf:
That one’s not the best picture. Sorry about that!
I got into this “knitting my stash” funk, and it’s something that I think every knitter goes through. When you want to desperately to go and buy this gorgeous yarn for this gorgeous pattern, but just can’t reconcile the cost when you have a large drawer full (most of you have a lot better stash than me, I imagine) of stash that’s beckoning you to knit it. Most of these projects were knit with my stash and while the drawer still seems full, so does my bank account. Next up, I’ll be knitting another baby gift for another dear friend who is expecting her 2nd. My first sweater is also in my queue, and I’ll get that cast on in the next few weeks.
Until next time, happy knitting one and all!
Piggys in a Blanket May 5, 2010
Posted by cheryl in Blankets & Afghans, Leah.add a comment
Leah says … Ladies and Gentleman, after 7 balls of yarn, 31 days, and who knows how many hours, the blanket is complete. Look!!
Isn’t she pretty? This is for little man Graham and his big sister. I presented the Graham’s with the blanket on the weekend and they loved it, and so did Little K- she had it draped around her for a good part of the evening. I must say I’m utterly happy with this blanket. There is one little problem and that is it turned out to be SO WIDE, but it looks amazing, it was fun to knit, and I loved the lace panels.
Next up- a quick mitten / hat set to use up some yarn I bought at a yarn fair almost a year ago, then I’ll probably knit some coasters out of linen wool I have leftover from the table runner I made, and THEN I’ll be on to this!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spidery-tank
This will start off my summer knitting.
Until next time!
Two Little Monkeys…. April 7, 2010
Posted by cheryl in Finished Projects, Hats, Leah.add a comment
Leah says … Baby knits are truly amazing for the following reasons:
1. A little yarn goes a long way- got half a skein of that gorgeous yarn left over in your stash? Booties!
2. They are so cute.
3. New parents love hand knit items for their babies more than that toy that makes alarm sounds and talks in what is thought of as English, but one can’t really be sure.
4. If the baby keeps the knitted item on long enough, there’s lots of room for photo op’s.
Although I’ve knit a blanket already, I’ve added these two things to the baby knit’s list:
Booties and a hat!
These were knit last minute as J and I were heading out of town to visit friends of J’s who have year old twins. We spent two days with them, but they had my heart after about a minute of seeing them. Don’t get any ideas- I’m not even close to having or wanting a baby for myself. But those twin babies rolling and crawling and cooing had me at hello. And if I ever decide to embark on the baby train, I’m calling J’s friends for advice. These new parents of twins, although of course it can get chaotic, have their daily routines down to a science. The Mom and Dad are happy- the babies are happy- the babies are sleeping, the Mom and Dad are sleeping- And while I was singing my praises, chatting with the mother, she was very grateful, but she did warn me that no routine came without a price. It sounded like a LOT of work to get that routine established. But I’m very happy for them and their new family, and I wish them all the best! And I can’t wait to play with their twins again.
Project baby blanket is coming along. It is 220 stitches cast on and I just finished my first skein last night- the blanket is only 5 inches long. The pattern is asking to go to 41 inches- so I need to get more yarn. It’s acrylic, so it’s not breaking the bank, but I think it will take about 9 skeins to complete. Also, in the lace panel it is knit 4 together- now THAT is a challenge. And with acrylic yarn, I have been heard cursing lately, but its worth it! It’s turning out to be a really cute blanket.
The Yarn Harlot Gets A New Fan April 7, 2010
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Leah says … I have just finished reading this book and am reading this book
Stephanie Pearl McPhee is seriously cracking me up, dude. Any knitter, from those of you who picked up needles and knit some wierd ‘dish cloth’ to those of you who have many, many gorgeous hand knits to your credit would get a kick out of her. I’m so envious- She is a published author, a famous award winning blogger (www.yarnharlot.ca) a yarn spinner and dyer and a Knitter in every sense of the word. And another perk- she lives right here in Toronto. She has seven (7) books! All about Knitting! And I know that it must seem crazy to write about knitting- how much can you possibly write and read about a knitter and knitting, right? Well bring it on! I love her books and I look forward to reading them all in time. Why can’t I blog and knit every day!
Happy knitting and reading about knitting!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! March 17, 2010
Posted by cheryl in Finished Projects, Leah.add a comment
Leah says… I’m not even a teeny tiny bit Irish, but Happy St. Patrick’s day to all of you who are! My brother, as I mentioned earlier, and his girlfriend are in Ireland for a year and he emailed to say everyone in Galway, where he is living, has been drunk since Sunday. I will definitely try to have a green beer today!
As for my knitting, well, I finished this!
Actually, I lied, it’s not finished, I’m going to knit more into the neck as it keeps slipping off when I wear it. Yup- I can WEAR it in MARCH because it’s so freakin warm out! Yesterday was truly balmy, I kid you not! I’m loving this weather, as long as Spring in March doesn’t mean Winter in April- then Leah will be very blue. I like my seasons to happen during the months dedicated to them!!!!
Anyway- what’s next for the knitting queue? As soon as I finish an easy scarf, I’m starting this….
A baby blanket for C and T’s baby boy, T is due in June! The pattern is free from ravelry and this weekend, I’m going with J’s Mom and sister to yarn shop and I’ll start it hopefully on the weekend.
‘Project- Economical Knitting’ has been going very well. I love one skein patterns! I think I’m going to knit some coasters with leftover linen wool (loooooooove linen wool) and some more cowls as well. They will be my peace of mind when I’m bored with the blanket.
